used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Meg could not sleep; the overseer's shrill whistle for the roll-call of the workmen had banished her last hopes that a little sleep would come to her before the exciting day began.
banishedverbUS /ˈbænɪʃt/
past form of “banish” — expel from a community or group
From this reading Meg could not sleep; the overseer's shrill whistle for the roll-call of the workmen had banished her last hopes that a little sleep would come to her before the exciting day began.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was the dawn of the morning on which the tomb was to be opened.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Meg could not sleep; the overseer's shrill whistle for the roll-call of the workmen had banished her last hopes that a little sleep would come to her before the exciting day began.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Meg could not sleep; the overseer's shrill whistle for the roll-call of the workmen had banished her last hopes that a little sleep would come to her before the exciting day began.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading They were to begin work earlier than usual; Meg could see no signs of the coming day in the sky.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading The clear whistle called the straggling figures together.
rid of obstructions
From this reading The clear whistle called the straggling figures together.
columnsnounUS /ˈkɑːləmz/
plural of “column” — a line of units following one after another
From this reading They were still indefinite objects, moving white columns in the darkness which heralds the dawn.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Meg could not sleep; the overseer's shrill whistle for the roll-call of the workmen had banished her last hopes that a little sleep would come to her before the exciting day began.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading They were to begin work earlier than usual; Meg could see no signs of the coming day in the sky.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Meg could not sleep; the overseer's shrill whistle for the roll-call of the workmen had banished her last hopes that a little sleep would come to her before the exciting day began.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading They were still indefinite objects, moving white columns in the darkness which heralds the dawn.
the first light of day
From this reading It was the dawn of the morning on which the tomb was to be opened.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Meg could not sleep; the overseer's shrill whistle for the roll-call of the workmen had banished her last hopes that a little sleep would come to her before the exciting day began.
earlier in time; previously
From this reading They were to begin work earlier than usual; Meg could see no signs of the coming day in the sky.
excitingadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsaɪtɪŋ/
creating or arousing excitement
From this reading Meg could not sleep; the overseer's shrill whistle for the roll-call of the workmen had banished her last hopes that a little sleep would come to her before the exciting day began.
plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading The clear whistle called the straggling figures together.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Meg could not sleep; the overseer's shrill whistle for the roll-call of the workmen had banished her last hopes that a little sleep would come to her before the exciting day began.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Meg could not sleep; the overseer's shrill whistle for the roll-call of the workmen had banished her last hopes that a little sleep would come to her before the exciting day began.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Meg could not sleep; the overseer's shrill whistle for the roll-call of the workmen had banished her last hopes that a little sleep would come to her before the exciting day began.
heraldsnounUS /ˈherəldz/
plural of “herald” — (formal) a person who announces important news
From this reading They were still indefinite objects, moving white columns in the darkness which heralds the dawn.
plural of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading Meg could not sleep; the overseer's shrill whistle for the roll-call of the workmen had banished her last hopes that a little sleep would come to her before the exciting day began.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They were still indefinite objects, moving white columns in the darkness which heralds the dawn.
indefiniteadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdefənət/
vague or not clearly defined or stated
From this reading They were still indefinite objects, moving white columns in the darkness which heralds the dawn.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the dawn of the morning on which the tomb was to be opened.
immediately past
From this reading Meg could not sleep; the overseer's shrill whistle for the roll-call of the workmen had banished her last hopes that a little sleep would come to her before the exciting day began.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Meg could not sleep; the overseer's shrill whistle for the roll-call of the workmen had banished her last hopes that a little sleep would come to her before the exciting day began.
MegnounUS /meɡ/
the number that is represented as a one followed by 6 zeros
From this reading Meg could not sleep; the overseer's shrill whistle for the roll-call of the workmen had banished her last hopes that a little sleep would come to her before the exciting day began.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading It was the dawn of the morning on which the tomb was to be opened.
in motion
From this reading They were still indefinite objects, moving white columns in the darkness which heralds the dawn.
not any; not one
From this reading They were to begin work earlier than usual; Meg could see no signs of the coming day in the sky.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Meg could not sleep; the overseer's shrill whistle for the roll-call of the workmen had banished her last hopes that a little sleep would come to her before the exciting day began.
plural of “object” — a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading They were still indefinite objects, moving white columns in the darkness which heralds the dawn.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was the dawn of the morning on which the tomb was to be opened.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was the dawn of the morning on which the tomb was to be opened.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading It was the dawn of the morning on which the tomb was to be opened.
overseer's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meg could not sleep; the overseer's shrill whistle for the roll-call of the workmen had banished her last hopes that a little sleep would come to her before the exciting day began.
roll-call
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meg could not sleep; the overseer's shrill whistle for the roll-call of the workmen had banished her last hopes that a little sleep would come to her before the exciting day began.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading They were to begin work earlier than usual; Meg could see no signs of the coming day in the sky.
shrilladjectiveUS /ʃrɪl/
having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones
From this reading Meg could not sleep; the overseer's shrill whistle for the roll-call of the workmen had banished her last hopes that a little sleep would come to her before the exciting day began.
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading They were to begin work earlier than usual; Meg could see no signs of the coming day in the sky.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading They were to begin work earlier than usual; Meg could see no signs of the coming day in the sky.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading Meg could not sleep; the overseer's shrill whistle for the roll-call of the workmen had banished her last hopes that a little sleep would come to her before the exciting day began.
not in physical motion
From this reading They were still indefinite objects, moving white columns in the darkness which heralds the dawn.
stragglingadjective
spreading out in different directions or distributed irregularly
From this reading The clear whistle called the straggling figures together.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading They were to begin work earlier than usual; Meg could see no signs of the coming day in the sky.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Meg could not sleep; the overseer's shrill whistle for the roll-call of the workmen had banished her last hopes that a little sleep would come to her before the exciting day began.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was the dawn of the morning on which the tomb was to be opened.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were still indefinite objects, moving white columns in the darkness which heralds the dawn.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was the dawn of the morning on which the tomb was to be opened.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading The clear whistle called the straggling figures together.
tombnounUS /tuːm/
a place for the burial of a corpse (especially beneath the ground and marked by a tombstone)
From this reading It was the dawn of the morning on which the tomb was to be opened.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading They were to begin work earlier than usual; Meg could see no signs of the coming day in the sky.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was the dawn of the morning on which the tomb was to be opened.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were still indefinite objects, moving white columns in the darkness which heralds the dawn.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was the dawn of the morning on which the tomb was to be opened.
whistleverbUS /ˈwɪsəl/
make whistling sounds
From this reading Meg could not sleep; the overseer's shrill whistle for the roll-call of the workmen had banished her last hopes that a little sleep would come to her before the exciting day began.
a Caucasian
From this reading They were still indefinite objects, moving white columns in the darkness which heralds the dawn.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading They were to begin work earlier than usual; Meg could see no signs of the coming day in the sky.
workmennounUS /ˈwɜːrkmɪn/
plural of “workman” — an employee who performs manual or industrial labor
From this reading Meg could not sleep; the overseer's shrill whistle for the roll-call of the workmen had banished her last hopes that a little sleep would come to her before the exciting day began.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Meg could not sleep; the overseer's shrill whistle for the roll-call of the workmen had banished her last hopes that a little sleep would come to her before the exciting day began.
